Murasaki Shikibu Box : 紫式部像

Murasaki Shikibu Murasaki Shikibu (c. 973–1014) was a Japanese novelist, poet, and lady-in-waiting at the Imperial Court during the Heian period. She is best known as the author of The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari), which was written in the early 11th century and is widely considered the world's first novel. Her work is celebrated for its psychological depth and detailed depiction of aristocratic court life in ancient Japan.

About the Statue This model is based on the famous stone statue of Murasaki Shikibu located at the west end of the Uji Bridge in Uji City, Kyoto. The statue depicts the author seated and holding a scroll, commemorating her connection to the city; the final ten chapters of The Tale of Genji (known as the "Uji Chapters") are set in this location. The real-life statue was erected in the 1990s and serves as a major landmark for literary pilgrims visiting the region.

Translation Key

• Center: 紫式部像 (Murasaki Shikibu Zō) — Statue of Murasaki Shikibu

• Top Left: 夢浮橋 ひろば (Yume no Ukihashi Hiroba) — Floating Bridge of Dreams Plaza

• Bottom Right: 源氏物語 宇治十帖 (Genji Monogatari Uji Jūjō) — The Tale of Genji: The Uji Chapters